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Season’s Greetings!!!

This season is filled with contagious joy, excitement and goodwill. Nearly everyone, young or old, is touched by some magical Christmas experience. It is the season of plentiful shop "til" you drop sales, familiar carols and melodies, delightful aromas of warm holiday cookies, flavorful eggnog or warm apple cider, beautiful displays of twinkling lights and cheerful gatherings with loved ones. It is also a time that prompts us to show more concerned and generous behavior to those who are in need. Wouldn't it be marvelous if these seasonal, joyful, generous feelings could last all the yearlong? Through MAC, we have the opportunity to provide not only seasonal, but also yearlong service and outreach to the Memphis community. MAC members recently experienced the joy of giving as we worked to support several local programs. In November our Physical and Mental Health Committee donated to the clients of Lowenstein House through the annual fundraiser. Also, the EMBODI fall conference participants received a very special day planned just for them by the committee along with the members of the Multi-Agency Task Force. After our December Day Party, we delivered baskets to some of our Delta Dears who are homebound. Each Dear seemed to enjoy being remembered and honored by this small act of kindness. This was a rare joy! In the true spirit of this wonderful season, let's make our December 5th chapter meeting an extremely special day. I encourage you to attend the chapter meeting and to wear "something red." Be prepared to enjoy spending a little green as you shop after chapter meeting in our Holiday Bazaar sponsored by our Financial Fortitude Committee, just down the hall and around the corner. Also, be a joyful giver at the December meeting. Bring underwear garments for the Memphis Mental Health Institute (sponsored by the PHMC). Donate non-perishable food items and gently worn, warm clothing to support the Social Action Committee’s efforts to combat poverty.

MAC’s 80th year December celebrations began with the Delta Dear Lunch Mingle to get all of us involved in acknowledging this significant milestone in our chapter’s history. Today, after receiving our 80th commemorative items, we are indeed ready for The 80th Gala Celebration, December 19, 2015, at the University of Memphis Holiday Inn from 7pm-midnight. This promises to be an event that you will not want to miss! Sorors, in the New Year let us sustain the excitement and joy of giving as we have done for 80 years. Join us in our Day of Service on January 9th. Please sign up to volunteer at a site today or online. National Vice President, Soror Beverly Smith will be the speaker for our Joint Founders Day Celebration on January 16, 2016. Our Social Action Committees are sponsoring a used cell phone drive during Founders Day; we will ask our friends, family and members of the Divine 9 to donate used cell phones that Verizon will refurbish for Domestic Violence victims. It will bring joy to our hearts to know that this project could indeed save a victim's life.

On behalf of the Executive Board, I wish you a blessed and joyous holiday season! May the continuous the joy, happiness and giving spirit of this season last the whole yearlong.

Happy Holidays and Continued Blessings,

Yolaundia C. Cofield

Yolaundia C. Cofield, President

MINERVA NEWSLETTER -DECEMBER 2015 VOLUME 12, ISSUE 4

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Submitted by: Maya Lee, 2nd

Vice President

We love our "Veteran Sorors", and we were so very delighted to honor our sisters and fellowship with each other during November's

"My Sisters and Me"! This month's outing was held at One and Only BBQ on Perkins Ext. on Sunday, November 22nd. We had a

marvelous time finding out more about each other by playing the "Two Truths, One Fib" game. Soror Allie Gray was spot on and

recognized every fib!

All sorors, especially those with military service, were invited to attend. We had one very special soror, Valencia May, to share her

experience as a member of the United States Air Force with us. Soror May served for six years and is now creating and maintaining

beautiful smiles through her work as a dentist. We salute you, Soror May, and thank you for your service!

Join the next Membership Services committee's "My Sisters and Me" on Tuesday, December 22nd for our Dessert Party and Game

Night at the lovely home of Soror Emma Primous! It will be loads of fun, so be sure to sign up at chapter meeting or online in MAC

Mail.

EMBODI Fall Conference 2015

My Sisters and Me: Honoring Our Veterans

On Saturday, November 14, 2015, the Memphis Alumnae Chapter in partnership with the Agency Unit presented EMBODI Fall

Conference 2015 at Carver High School. President Cofield welcomed over 100 young men to this year’s fall conference. Eron

Stephen, M.Div. (Master of Divinity), gave an inspiring morning motivational talk to the young men.

Several workshops designed specifically for middle and high school students were presented during the conference, Workshop

topics included: "How to Dress for Success", " Gang Life" and "Reality versus Reality Television". After lunch, the participants

engaged in a panel discussion entitled “Keeping It Real: Real Talk, Real Men” facilitated by the Agency Unit. As the conference

concluded, participants were excited about the insights they had gained on topics that affect them everyday.

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HOLIDAY SPENDING

By Yolanda Smith

With the holiday season approaching fast, this is probably not the best time to think about saving money. However, it is a good time to

practice budgeting because we may yearn to spend more than planned. Furthermore, many consumers will feel the sting of holiday

spending well into the new year. If you love to celebrate the holidays (like I do) but don’t like the financial wound you experience

afterwards, here are a few helpful tips to avoid spending too much this holiday season.

1. Know your limit. How much have you saved? How much can you afford to spend without going into debt? Sit down and plan

out your holiday budget. Be realistic. This is also a good time to plan for next year by beginning to save automatically into a

holiday fund or Christmas club.

2. Create a list. Remember, a list is different from a budget. List the names of each person who will receive a gift, and allocate

the amount you will spend for each present. Stick to it! Spending just a few more dollars per person could cause an overage in

your budget.

3. Measure twice and cut once. Consider trimming your list. Do you really need to exchange gifts with everyone in your

family?

4. Use cash. There are appropriate occasions to use credit cards; however, it can be difficult to use them responsibly. The holiday

season occurs every year, so don’t make going into debt an annual tradition. Using your credit cards allows you to spend

money you don’t have, exceed your budget and add interest to those “good” deals. Leave the credit cards at home.

5. Watch your online purchases. The Internet can be a useful tool for holiday shopping. However, it requires using a credit

card. Website retailers know just how to market those holiday sales to entice you to fill your cart with unplanned purchases.

Watch for those shipping fees. If you pay for shipping, those deals may not be such a good deal after all. If you shop online,

remember to plan your purchases, stick to your budget and follow your list.

If you can’t resist the pull of Black Friday and other holiday sales, be a savvy shopper/saver. Stick to your list and budget. Limit your

purchases to those you already planned to make. Shopping with a clear goal in mind and avoiding unplanned purchases can keep your

savings and spending on track. Do something different…shop deliberately, not impulsively!!

Most importantly, the reason for the Christmas season is the birth of Jesus the Christ. It is the greatest gift humanity has ever received,

and it costs us absolutely nothing. The awesome thing is that accepting the gift of Jesus Christ does not enslave you into debt.

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December and January Birthdays

December 2 April Hubbard December 3 Melanie Johnson December 4 Phyllis Dandridge December 5 Clora Reddrick December 6 Felecia Foster Wanda Jones-Hunt Barbara Joyner Linda Nettes Florence Roach Carolyn Tisdale Angeline Vaulx December 7 Minnie Cook December 9 Pearl Gibson Pamela Kelly December 14 Lethelea Jackson December 17 Meegan Lambert December 18 Regina Echols Renee Jones-Jeffery December 29 LaGina Mitchell-Scott December 31 Tamika McGill

January 2 Ora Breckenridge January 5 Kameilah Amaya Beverly Leeks January 6 Tammy Phillips-Harrison January 8 Doris Walker January 10 Trina Bohanner January 11 Brandi Harris Violet Itson Tabitha Liddell Candace Tate Wanda Woodruff January 12 Lois Williams January 15 Kiva Taylor January 16 Cheiktha Dowers Stephanie Scurlock-Thorton January 18 Phyllis Dixon Angelique Gray Geraldine Holmes Valencia May Gina Stewart January 20 Verna Lambert January 21 Billie Hansbrough January 22 Mableleen Blakney Gwendolyn Price January 24 Robbie Tunstall Elaine Caviness January 26 Jennifer Hassler Betty Miller January 28 Pearlie Caldwell Kathlyn Carter Janice Suggs Shera Caviness

Margaret Toles Lillian Smith

January 30

Anntionett Johnson January 31 Allie Gray

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Holiday Expressions from the Executive Committee

It is my sincere wish that this Christmas season will bring to each of you the blessings of good health, inner peace and true happiness. Happy Holidays! Yolaundia C. Cofield, President

What I love most about the holidays is the spirit of love and caring that flows from and to the hearts and actions of the entire community. Praise and thank God for His love, grace, and mercy. Love to you my sisters! Lucy Stansbury, Parliamentarian

My Christmas wish is.... That everyone has a blessed holiday with family and friends and remember that Jesus is the reason for the season. Shera Caviness, Treasurer

What I love most about the holidays is the joy of giving. Adrienne Dobbins, Financial Secretary

My fondest holiday memories were made at my grandparents home with my family, enjoying a sit down, home-cooked meal at the dinner table and socializing afterwards as the women gathered in the kitchen and the men to watch football. December 7 and 25 were my granddaddy's and grandma's birthdays, respectively, so we always made sure we were at family dinner to celebrate them. Treasure your family members when you partake in the upcoming holidays as every minute with them creates wonderful memories. Be blessed and have a Happy New Year! Qadriyyah J. Debnam, Ph.D., Recording Secretary

What I love most about the holidays is reconnecting with old friends and family you haven't seen all

year, drinking egg nog, making cookies for family and friends and wishing for snow on Christmas. Candace D. Tate, Assistant Financial Secretary

What I love most about the holidays is spending time with my family (including Bandit :-)), enjoying

great food, huge laughs and making new memories that I will cherish for a lifetime. It is a wonderful time to reflect on just how good God has been to me and my family. Maya Lee, 2

nd Vice President

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MARK YOUR CALENDARS/NEWS YOU CAN USE

Best of Me Fitness Day

January 23, 2016 Freedom Chapel Christian Church

961 Getwell Road 10:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.

IMPACT Day of Service

Saturday, January 9, 2016

Locations

* Her Faith Ministries

* Riverview Community Center Dance

Class and Health/Nutrition Workshop

* Jewel Court Etiquette Workshop

* Distribution of Warm Food/Beverages

and Accessories to the Homeless

* Clothing and School Supply Drive for

SCS Students

* Rainbow Rehabilitation Center Visit

Sign up link will be available in Mac Mail

Also a joint initiative with SCTAC will be the

collection of cellphones for domestic violence victims at our Founders Day Celebration

January 15, 2016.

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ACCOLADES & CONGRATULATIONS

“Sweet is the voice of a sister in the season of sorrow.” – Benjamin Disraeli

CONDOLENCES AND PRAYER REQUESTS

November Virtuous Violets

Congratulations

Elaine Taylor Annie Hollings

Terrell Cheatham-Carpenter—Carpenter Primary Healthcare, PLLC will receive the Tennessee

Business Development Corporation (TSBDC) 2015 Rising Star Award on

Saturday, December 19, 2015.

April Hubbard—secured the visit of presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton to speak at LeMoyne

Owen College on Friday, November 20, 2015.

Soror Carma Rose Porter Potter

Deedra Clark---loss of grandmother Nicole Clark---loss of grandmother

Barbara Duncan-Cody---loss of cousin Denise Duncan---loss of aunt

Audrey Elion---loss of cousin and aunt ill Felecia Foster---loss of aunt

Nikisha Greer---loss of mother Geraldine Holmes---loss of daughter

Yorian Hull---father ill Yvonne Hull---husband ill

Tangela, Tiffany, Tracie, and Telesa Taylor---loss of father

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From left to right: Gwendolyn Price (Assistant Treasurer), Wanda Woodruff (Journalist), Candace Tate (Assistant Financial Secretary), Brietta Hendricks (Chaplain), Lucy Stansbury (Parliamentarian), Maya Lee (2nd Vice President), Yolaundia Cofield (President), Beverly Robertson (1st Vice President), Shera Chaviness (Treasurer), Monique Williams (Sergeant-at-Arms), Elizabeth Jackson (Corresponding Secretary), Adrienne Dobbins (Financial Secretary) and Qadriyyah Debnam (Recording Secretary).

Access to MAC Member’s Only Portal macdsttechnology@gmail.com

Access to MAC Mail/Calling Post/Newsletter maccorrsec@gmail.com

Inform Chapter of Illnesses and Deaths macdst1935@gmail.com

Inquiries Regarding Dues/Financial Status macfinanceteam@gmail.com

Membership Services mac2ndvicepresident@gmail.com

Chapter Operations macdst1935@gmail.com

Prayer Requests macsistersinthespirit@gmail.com

CHAPTER MEETING INFORMATION

Saturday, December 5, 2015

10:00 a.m.

MISSISSIPPI BOULEVARD CHRISTIAN CHURCH

70 North Bellevue

Memphis, Tennessee 38104

Business Attire

2014-2016

Executive Committee

HOW CAN MEMPHIS ALUMNAE HELP YOU?

**The header on the cover of the Minerva Newsletter was designed by Soror Angelique Gray for the

2011 Southern Regional Conference, hosted by the Memphis Alumnae Chapter**